AUGUTSA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) - Governor LePage took aim at an issue he is very familiar with, domestic violence.
As a child growing up LePage lived on the streets of Lewiston at times after escaping an abusive home.
"Each and every one here today has been affected in one way or another by domestic abuse and domestic violence. Victims like myself as a young boy", he said.
Victims of domestic abuse are featured in a new Public Service Announcement being distributed around the state at the request of the Governor. The Governor says he is also supporting several pieces of proposed legislation aimed at addressing domestic violence concerns. Advocates say those bills if passed would do the following.
Identify the most dangerous offenders and use resources to focus on those cases in an attempt to increase safety for victims. Improve notification to victims when an offender is being released. Change the bail code by requiring high risk offenders to appear before a judge instead of just a bail commissioner.
The bills will be taken up by the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on February 13th.
NEWS CENTER